The maxis change hands...

10/05/2015

It is often the case that after the Route du Rhum or a victorious record campaign, the boats change owners. 2015 is no exception to the rule, and we have just learnt that the Maxi Banque Populaire VII (ex-Groupama 3), winner of the last two Routes du Rhum, has been sold.

Francis Joyon will now be skippering this mythical boat, but before this,
the blue trimaran will be chartered byRenaud Laplanche, CEO of Lending Club, with the aim of taking the
records for Miami-New York, Newport-Bermuda and Los Angeles-Hawaii. Joyon will
only be able to get to know his new catamaran after the summer.

But what then will become of Francis
Joyon’s Idec? The Irens-Cabaret designed boat has been sold to the Chinese
sailor Guo Chuan, who was the first to sail round the world...

And what about Banque Pop? The
sponsor has announced that it is extending its commitment to sailing until at
least 2020, and has just launched the construction of a new trimaran, which
will be called Maxi Solo Banque Populaire IX, and will be skippered by Armel Le
Cléac’h, with the aim being the Ultim group races and the next Route du Rhum...